Nehemiah 5:12

We will restore. Nehemiah’s eloquent appeal, his reaffirmation of the principles of the Mosaic law, and his own worthy example carried the day. The nobles, one and all, agreed not only to remit interest already charged, to refrain from exacting further interest, and to lend to their poorer brethren in harmony with the law, but to restore the forfeited lands and houses, which must have been of considerable value, and which according to the letter of the law they were entitled to keep until the year of jubilee.

Took an oath. See on Ezra 10:5. When the required consent had been given, Nehemiah called the priests, and required the creditors to swear to adhere conscientiously to their agreement. Nehemiah secured the attendance of the priests, partly for the purpose of giving solemnity to the oath now taken, as being taken before the Lord, and partly to give the declaration legal validity for judicial action, should that prove necessary.